Post #29
Most people realize that who we are is a result of experiences and relationships we have had in this life— as well as our inherited DNA . . .but have we given much thought to the influence of our culture and it’s history? And even if we do understand that our own culture is very important to us personally, have we consciously made an attempt to acknowledge the culture of the person(s) we are caring for?
Today I want to consider how we can enhance care receivers’ lives by finding out more about their culture and then reminding them of positive aspects of their cultural heritage. Depending on your caregiving situation, you can do this in small ways as you interact while taking care of the specific needs you are responsible for— or if you are able, you can devote more time to planned activities directed toward this goal. Either way, being aware of a person’s culture will not only demonstrate that you honor this aspect of the care receiver’s life, but will also help you understand their background in order to care for them more successfully.
Many care receiver's find it beneficial to talk about their culture and their past, both the positive and negative aspects. In the eighties I spent many hours listening to Central American immigrants tell me of the violence and scarcity they had experienced in their countries. At first I knew very little Spanish, but they would tell me long histories anyway. In the beginning I understood about 2 words in 10, and I’ve often wondered what tales I missed, but in spite of my limitations, I think it was important that I listened and tried to understand. I could see a new light in each person’s eyes as they grew confident they had someone to talk to. (This is why I learned Spanish quickly, although not perfectly.)
Encouraging a person to talk about their personal past and their culture is a way to begin to show honor, but there are other ways also. Maybe you can find movies and/or books related to their ethnicity to share with your care receiver. After you know something about the person, you can try to be more specific in your selections. As an example, a care receiver may have been born in Haiti but grew up in New York City. In this case, they may be interested in hearing of the land of their birth, but they will be more likely to relate to tales of other Haitians who grew up in the U.S., particularly in the Big Apple.
Age is one cultural difference, which is not often considered but we need to honor. When we are working with people of a significant age difference, it is important to remember that our particular generation (whether younger or older) may have different tastes in music, different experiences related to technology, and many different opinions on a variety of topics, but that doesn’t mean we should belittle their way of life. Too often people from the same geographic area and ethnicity find barriers because of their ages. In many cases two young people from different countries, even continents, may feel less separated than they feel with a person from their own country who is 50 years older. I think this holds true for technologically advanced cultures more frequently than for countries where people live together in small villages and still depend on their communities for fellowship and support. For example, young people who have the internet daily often enjoy the same popular bands, while those who are more isolated may know of the bands and yet feel more connected to their own community’s music and dance.
Music offers a very personal way to become involved with a person's culture--whether your caregiver is of a different age group or from a different country. When I worked with Central Americans, Spanish music was a large part of our lives. Singing occurred daily and dancing at least bimonthly. This wasn’t really planned, but occurred spontaneously as an expression of grief, hope, and happiness. I embraced the Central American customs of music wholeheartedly, and I have to admit that I really miss this aspect of life. They sang to relax, to worship, to celebrate . . . I could always count on being serenaded outside my window on the mornings of my birthday and mother’s day. . . an expression of love in appreciation for my role as “mother” to all of them. . . One of my greatest rewards as a caregiver.
Another fun way to celebrate culture is to celebrate a special holiday together. This might be a holiday that is specific to the care receiver's own nation or ethnicity, or it might be a holiday that is celebrated in common yet with different customs (such as, Christmas or Ramadan). In fact, as our world has become more connected, we share more similar experiences with others across the globe. It’s good to celebrate these likenesses along with the differences of a person’s culture.
Sometimes a care receiver may feel alienated from their past and their culture—especially if you’re working with small children who were relocated at an early age or the elderly who may have forgotten some details. Using a map to identify where the person came from—whether from another country, another state or even the same city— can be a good place to start to encourage the person’s sense of identity. Sometimes people have multiple ethnicities, and/or geographical homes that are important to them. Showing them photos, either from the internet or in their own collection, will make the place(s) seem more real.
Encouraging your care receiver(s) to reminisce in the ways I've suggested is beneficial in most cases; however, if they are under the care of a therapist or have had some known trauma you may need to consult their physician or counselor beforehand. Of course, there’s always the possibility that someone may have had an unknown traumatic experience that is triggered. If they react negatively to something you are discussing with them, change the subject of discussion and look for clues as to what they remember from their personal past that is safe to discuss. (And refer them to a professional counselor/psychologist/psychiatrist if needed.)
As we honor another person’s heritage, we need to be careful not to present the culture as lesser than our own. This may be particularly difficult if we feel our nation or ethnicity is above others. Maybe we don’t think of ourselves as prejudiced, but we’ve grown up around that attitude of “nationalism,” “ageism,” “class,” and “racism,” and it creeps out in some of the things we say or how we say it. I’ve found it necessary to continually question my attitudes towards others and to remind myself that my personal history and culture might be best for me, but it is not what’s best for everyone. Honor the person(s) you care for by treating their culture and person as important and equal, as well as by showing in speech and action that you respect both similarities and differences between cultures.
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